Foundry flask

ABSTRACT

A BREAK-OPEN FOUNDRY FLASK HAVING AN ADJUSTABLE TOGGLE MECHANISM ON OPPOSITE CORNERS FOR FACILITATING THE REMOVAL OF THE FLASK FROM ITS MOLD.

United States Patent 11 1 Hoffman Dec. 25, 1973 [54] FOUNDRY FLASK 2,624,926 1/1953 1111111811 164/393 [76] Inventor: Thomas C. Hoffman, Dubuque,

Iowa

Primary Examiner-Robert D. Baldwin [73] Assignee: The Adams Company, Dubuque. Assistant Examiner--V. K. Rising Iowa Attorney-John J. Byrne [22] Filed: Mar. 21, 1972 [21] Appl. No.2 236,644

[57] 1 ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. 164/392 [5 l] Bzzc 1322c 21,02 3 2 0 A break-open foundry flask having an adjustable toggle mechanism on opposite corners for facilitating the [58] Field of Search 164/392, 393, 384, removal of the flask from its molcL [56] References Cited 8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS Linn 164/292 FOUNDRY FLASK There are two principal types of existing foundry flasks. The first is called a tight flask and remains on the mold throughout the molding process. The second general type, although there are variations, basically is a flask which breaks open at opposite corners and is removed from the mold prior to pouring the molten iron or other casting material. This invention relates to the latter type flask. The flask is broken open on opposite corners so that it may be removed from the mold without causing damage to the mold.

As the state-of-the-art has advanced, flasks have become larger. This increases the problems inherent in flask removal procedures. The most successful of the heretofore existing break-open type flasks have camming means on opposite corners which break the corners so that the sides thereof are spaced from the mold. This is generally a hand operation and the ease of operation is of great importance. With the larger molds in particular, the distance between mold and flask is quite limited with known camming apparatus.

In view of the above, a principal objective of this invention is to provide a new and improved opening mechanism for flask corners that will provide increased distance between the mold and the flask when operated to facilitate removal thereof.

Another objective of this invention is to provide a toggle mechanism for a foundry flask which permits easy stripping thereof even though the flask has become distorted through frequent use.

Another important objective of this invention is to provide a toggle clamp for the corners of a foundry flask which has a reduced number of parts, is readily made of durable material and lends itself to easy maintenance at low cost.

A still further objective of this invention is to provide a toggle mechanism for opening foundry flasks in which the degree of closing tightness is'adjustable.

A still further objective of this invention is to provide a toggle opening apparatus of the type described wherein the mitred corner surfaces of the flask are equipped with guide means for aligning the adjacent sides of the flask during operation.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the following detailed description when viewed in light of the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a foundry flask;

FIG. 2 is a partial enlarged isometric view of the invention showing one corner of the flask in its open position;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal cross-section through the principal elements of this invention showing the mechanism in its open position; and

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 with the mechanism in its closed position.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals are indicated by like parts, the numeral indicates the flask of this invention. The flask includes sides 12, 13, 14 and 15. In the embodiment shown, the corners l8 and are fixedly secured together and the corners 22 and 24 are equipped with a toggle mechanism 25 which, when expanded, increases the length of the inner periphery of the flask so that it can be readily removed from the mold it surrounds. Because the mechanism at corner 22 is identical to the mechanism at corner 24, only the. former will be described in detail.

The corner 22 is located at the abutting ends of sides 12 and 15. These sides, respectively, are terminated in mating mitered surfaces 26 and 28. The exterior surface of side 12 is formed with longitudinal recesses 30, 32 and 34. The side 15 is formed with longitudinal recesses 36, 38 and 40. A plurality of interengaging means 42 extend between the surfaces 26 and 28 for accurately aligning the sides 12 and 15 as they are drawn together or pulled apart by toggle mechanism 25.

The interengaging means includes a pin 44 having one end thereof snugly seated in cavity 52-formed in surface 28. The other end of the pin 44 extends through a bushing 45 which, in turn, is seated in through cavity 46 extending from surface 26. The cavities, together with the pin length, are dimensioned so that the pin will not create any obstacle to a full closing of the flask.

The toggle mechanism 25 includes a linkage arm 60 extending across the corner 22. It is threaded at one end for adjustably receiving a sliding bit 62 which is equipped with upper and lower openings 64 and 66 for receiving pivot pins 68 and 70. These pins extend inwardly into recess 32. Linkage 60 is thus mounted pivotally about the pin means. A pair of lock nuts 72 and 74 are disposed on either side of the block 62 for maintaining the block in its adjusted position. A block 76 is mounted on the other end of linkage 60. A pin 78 extends through this block and has its upper and lower ends respectively mounted in plates 80 and 82 which form a bifurcated portion 83 of a lever 84. The inner ends of the bifurcated plates 80 and 82 are pivotally mounted within recess 38 by way of upper and lower pivot pin means 86 and 88.

The outer (handle) end of the lever 84 is indicated by the numeral 90. An adjustable stop 92 is received therethrough. As shown in FIG. 3, the handle is in its open or first position, and as shown in FIG. 4, the handle is in its closed or nested position.

As previously stated, the flask is secured about a mold as seen in FIG. 4. When it is desired to remove the mold, the lever is pulled outwardly to the position shown in FIG. 3.

In a general manner, while there has been disclosed an effective and efficient embodiment of the invention, it should be well understood that the invention is not limited to such an embodiment, as there might be changes made in the arrangement, disposition, and form of the parts without departing from the principle of the present invention.

I claim:

l. A generally rectangular foundry flask of the type having sides at least one pair of which have first and second mitred surfaces in abutting relationship with one another, the improvement comprising first pin means mounted on one of said sides adjacent said first surface,

a linkage arm having a first end pivotally mounted about said first pin means and having a second end,

second pin means mounted on a second of said sides adjacent said second surface,

a lever having an inner end pivotally mounted about said second pin means and having an outer end, said lever having a first position when said surfaces are spaced from one another and asecond position when said surfaces abut,

a member pivotally mounted to said lever intermediate said inner and outer ends,

said second end of said linkage secured to said member,

interengaging guide means extending between said first and second surfaces for guiding and aligning said surfaces toward and away from one another as said lever moves respectively from said first position to said second position, and

said guide means including cavities in one of said surfaces and a plurality of spring-loaded pins extending from the other of said surfaces into said cavities.

2. The flask of claim 1 wherein block means are adjustably secured to said first end of said linkage arm and said first pin means engage said block.

3. The flask of claim 2 wherein lock nuts are disposed on said linkage arm adjacent said block to maintain its adjusted position.

4. The flask of claim 1 wherein an adjustabie stop is secured to said lever. V V

5. The invention of claim 1 wherein said inner end is bifurcated and said member is pivotally mounted between upper and lower plates of said bifurcation.

6. The flask of claim 1 wherein said sides are longitudinally recessed on the exterior thereof and said first and second pin means are mounted in said recess in p ralle v, s-l 1sh w him n th -V 7. The flask of claim 1 wherein a corner opposite said first and second surfaces has third and fourth mitred surfaces with said improvement.

8. The flask of claim 4 wherein said stop is a bolt threadably received by said lever. 

